Activision Returns to ESA After Five-Year Absence

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today Activision Blizzard Inc. and Tencent have joined the trade association; this increases the ESA’s membership to 37 companies.

Moreover, both Activision Blizzard and Tencent join the list of the ESA’s notable memberships, such as Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo of America Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment America, just to name a few. But as far as Activision Blizzard is concerned, the publisher was a member of the ESA before leaving in 2008 for business reasons. However, Activision Blizzard’s Chris Walther says his company is delighted to come back the ESA.

“ESA has a long track record of supporting its members and the video game industry, and look forward to sharing our unique perspective and experience with them,” Walther says in a statement.

Tencent is an Internet company in China founded in 1998. They are well known for providing online multiplayer games through their QQ Game Platform, as well as offering services tailored towards social networking and communications.

“We are excited to join an association that promotes the development of the U.S. game industry as we are exploring more opportunities in this market,” said Tencent’s Gordon Bellamy.

The ESA is responsible for E3—the annual convention of the computer and videogame industry. This year’s E3 raked in 48,000 attendees. Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 arguably stole the show at this year’s E3. E3 2014 will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 10-12.